I thought of nothing but resigning my dominions, and retiring for
ever from the sight of mankind. My only difficulty was to fix on a
successor, who would be tender of my people, and to dispose of the
Lady Isabella, who is dear to me as my own blood. I was willing to
restore the line of Alfonso, even in his most distant kindred. And
though, pardon me, I am satisfied it was his will that Ricardo's
lineage should take place of his own relations; yet where was I to
search for those relations? I knew of none but Frederic, your
Lord; he was a captive to the infidels, or dead; and were he
living, and at home, would he quit the flourishing State of Vicenza
for the inconsiderable principality of Otranto? If he would not,
could I bear the thought of seeing a hard, unfeeling, Viceroy set
over my poor faithful people? for, Sirs, I love my people, and
thank heaven am beloved by them. But ye will ask whither tends
this long discourse? Briefly, then, thus, Sirs. Heaven in your
arrival seems to point out a remedy for these difficulties and my
misfortunes. The Lady Isabella is at liberty; I shall soon be so.
I would submit to anything for the good of my people. Were it not
the best, the only way to extinguish the feuds between our
families, if I was to take the Lady Isabella to wife? You start.
But though Hippolita's virtues will ever be dear to me, a Prince
must not consider himself; he is born for his people." A servant
at that instant entering the chamber apprised Manfred that Jerome
and several of his brethren demanded immediate access to him.

The Prince, provoked at this interruption, and fearing that the
Friar would discover to the strangers that Isabella had taken
sanctuary, was going to forbid Jerome's entrance. But recollecting
that he was certainly arrived to notify the Princess's return,
Manfred began to excuse himself to the Knights for leaving them for